Getting Started

Free Genealogy Software: Making Your Choice

Choosing a genealogy software program really boils down to choosing the right program for you. To know this you will have to try out a few for yourself. Adding up to three generations during your test trials is a minimum time investment that will:

• Reveal the program that is the best match for you
• Give you a good idea of what your chart and reports will look like

 

Using this approach helped me narrow it down to the following three excellent choices in free genealogy software.

Genealogy Research Software (Gramps 3.3)

Overall Gramps is a great program that has pretty much every feature chart and report option you could dream of. If you have great computer skills you are going to love it, if not this may not be a good program for you. Gramps also has a few extra features that are quite nice, like the Gramplets feature that helps you monitor your progress and analyze data.

For a more in depth review of Gramps3.3 including a link where you can download the software for free, join us on the Genealogy in General forums now.

RootsMagic 5

The free version of RootsMagic genealogy software is slick, good looking and starts off with an option to import data right at the opening screen. RootsMagic is also loaded with an impressive list of features and extras. The only drawback to this superb free version of the program is that it will not attach documents or allow you to publish your research. However that should not be a great deterrent as those features and many more are available on the full paid version should you choose RootsMagic as your long term genealogy software?

For a more in depth review of RootsMagic including the download links join us on the Genealogy in General forums now.

My Heritage Family Tree Builder

My Heritage open source family tree software has an incredible, easy to navigate layout in a gorgeous design. With fantastic easy access drop down menus and a convenient back button it makes entering data fast and efficient. The downside of this amazing free program is that there is a data entry limit of 250 individuals. I don’t really consider that a serious deal breaker for the beginning genealogist, as you can choose from a three tier upgrade adding as needed; or export to GedCom if you want to change programs.

For a more in depth review with download links of My Heritage join us on the Genealogy in General forums now.

Don’t be afraid to download a few programs and give them a try. I can assure you that removing the unwanted programs is as simple as the initial down loads. Please remember; before you start downloading to scan for viruses.

Don’t forget to join us on the forums for a breakdown of the key features in each of these exceptional free version genealogy software programs.

image credit: office.microsoft.com

 

Free Genealogy Software – 3 Things to Know

Eventually most genealogy beginners are going to start thinking about a genealogy software program to record their research. There certainly are a lot of wonderful jam packed programs on the market to choose from. However, during the early stages of an ancestor hunt there is really no need to spend a lot of money (before you even have a good idea of what you want) on a Family Tree software program full of bells and whistles.

 

 

All You Really Need

A simple nuts and bolts genealogy software program that allows you to carry forward with your research, while keeping your family tree organized, is all that is really needed. A practical solution to this is, open source or “free” family tree software, that you can download in 10 minutes or less.

Free Family Tree Software Essentials

1. A good open source program for a beginning genealogist is one that will:
• Easily record your data
• Compile your evidence
• Help you to analyze your findings

2. A better beginning program will be:
• Easy to navigate
• Catch errors
• Provide tutorials
• Offer tech support

3. The best program has all of the above and is:
• Upgradable – you will not have to re-enter your data
• GedCom compatible – you are free to choose whatever long term program you like.

Using open source genealogy software gets you started immediately. In addition, some of these free programs rival a lot of the paid programs available. I know this because I have spent the last few days testing out several of them and am in the process of testing several more.

At this point you may be saying “Gee thanks, but I still don’t know what one to choose”. Not to worry, over the next few days Genealogybeginner.com will have your choices narrowed down to a top three short list of open source programs; perfect for the beginning genealogists. Check back to see the final results.

On the Other Hand

You may have your heart set on purchasing your long term genealogy software program now. Or maybe you are thinking of purchasing one as a gift for someone special? Before you do, make certain you check out Genealogybeginner.com’s Lesson 8: A Look at Genealogy Software. A pivotal lesson that takes a long hard look at the enormous and baffling world of genealogy software, then demystifies it before your eyes.

image credit: treelady via photobucket

October is Family History Month: Host a Family Tree Party

In October, genealogy is the buzzword. Why, because October is Family History Month and it seems that everyone is on a mission to honor their ancestors. Genealogy internet sites are holding contests, sweepstakes and giveaways, genealogy bloggers are busily posting, Twitter is a-tweet with the news and Facebook is getting frantic. There is no better time to get together with your relatives and shake the branches of your family tree. So what is all of the fuss about?  It is about the natural human curiosity we all share in wanting to know everything we can about our heritage.

 

Perhaps, it is mostly about family pride and honoring the ancestors who made great sacrifices, so that we may enjoy the lives we have today.

Family History Month is the perfect time to connect with your family members and host a Family Tree party.  To throw a Family Tree Party all you need to do is, ask family members to bring a special family heirloom; it could be a photograph, newspaper clipping, recipe or simply a favorite memory about a family member. Sharing the stories from your common past can help bring present and future generations closer together, while at the same time preserving your heritage.  For relatives that are more geographically distant try to arrange for them to attend through a group Skype call.

While you have everyone together, you have the opportunity to:

Work on your family tree

With everyone together, this is the ideal time to update your family tree. Have there been any births, marriages or deaths since the last update? What about occupation changes, education news or recent research that needs to be added?

Start a family cookbook

Does your family have any traditional dishes, what about grandma’s homemade bread or Uncle Joe’s Horseradish sauce?  Hosting a Family Tree Party may be the opportunity you have been waiting for to gather up these delectable family treats and finally start that family cookbook project.

Profile a family member

Profiling a family member is an excellent way to enrich your family history one forebear at a time. Is there someone in your family tree who is famous or infamous? Is there a mystery to be solved? Every ancestor has a story to tell, by profiling an individual, you give yourselves the ability to fully flesh out those stories that define family history.

Create a family Facebook page

With everyone together, it is a good time to discuss creating a family Facebook page. Family Facebook pages are a wonderful way to stay in touch, share information and work together on your family history projects. You can use them to share photographs, documents and the latest news. Family Facebook pages are free; they are also easy to set up. Another bonus is that they are a great way for others researching your family name to find you.

Do not forget to check out some of the leading genealogy websites and take advantage of their Family History Month celebrations. Here are a few of the special offers and activities available throughout Family History Month.

• Honor Family History Month with “The Amazing History of You“:  ProQuest and Ancestry.com
• Great genealogy supplies giveaway and free Webinars: Family Tree Magazine and Family Tree University
• A one-month Geni Plus account giveaway: Geni

Family History Month is the perfect occasion to renew your genealogy research, or get it started at genealogybeginner.com. It is most certainly a time to remember your family, past and present.

“We all grow up with the weight of history on us.  Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiraling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies”.  ~Shirley Abbott

My heritage: The Family Friendly Search Engine

Guest Post by Nick Capallero

Anyone involved in genealogical research knows about the difficulty in tracking long lost family members, in obtaining and organizing official records and placing them in an easy-to-use family tree for all the family. Although nowadays one can get help online, a good and trustworthy genealogy research tool, specializing in finding ancestors and advancing our family research, is essential.

Continue reading “My heritage: The Family Friendly Search Engine” »

Genealogy Search

There are a large number of free websites that exist simply for your use in a family history search. These sites contain databases and search capabilities that can quickly aid in determining whether you are on the right path in your search. We suggest you start with a solid Blank Family Tree Template. If you don’t know about it already, it is time to become familiar with the Latter Day Saints’ extensive Web site, which covers parts of Europe, the East Coast and North America for several generations. The Latter Day Saints are renowned for their work in genealogy.

 

Although records have been found dating back to a person in Europe in 1200 A.D., the Latter Day Saints’ Web site information is not as complete as the CD databases available at public genealogy libraries or at their own genealogy libraries located in most major cities around the world.

Note: In The Step-by-Step Genealogy Guide, we discuss searching public records in detail, including how to get free, professional, one-on-one assistance. The Guide also offers more information abut the LDS website plus provides extensive details about getting the most of an actual visit to the library.

Set a specific goal for each online family history search session (i.e., the one hour you have on Sunday before junior wakes up from his nap) Try to narrow your search and only look at those items that are closely related to your quest. It is possible to spend many fascinating, yet useless hours chasing information. Try to remain focused on your search.

Now Download the full Genealogy Guide and keep your research going!

 

Genealogy Template Charts

Getting organized is the first and most important step in initiating your genealogy project. A family tree is a chart that outlines the results of a genealogy search. Making a family tree starts with getting your paperwork in order. Starting the search for your own family tree marks the beginning of a private adventure into your personal history. You’ll find delightful surprises, family secrets, and heartaches. The treasures you find will be enjoyed by generations who follow.

 

Getting Yourself Ready For a Genealogy Search

You’ll search for documents that can verify family stories – birth certificates, military records, wills, marriage licenses, and deeds. Therefore, It is a good idea to prepare a notebook to organize yourself.

More Info:
To Organize or Be a Genealogy Slob
By: Rudy Coleman

Click Here to Read This Article(will open in a new window)

Continue reading “Genealogy Template Charts” »

More:How to Make a Family Tree

Making Your Family Tree Chart is as Easy as 1-2-3! First, understanding exactly what a family tree is and what it looks like by downloading genealogy charts. This will provide clarity and direction. You are the first entry, then your parents, then your grandparents. If you have supporting documents, write in ink, otherwise, use pencil.  Once you’ve exhausted your resources at home, it’s time to start searching online and elsewhere.

 

 

Simply follow these three simple steps and you’ll be up and running with your family tree in no time. Start by getting yourself a Blank Family Tree Template

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The Step-by-Step Genealogy Guide

• Family Tree Templates
• Exactly How To Make a Family Tree Chart
• Where to Find Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates
• How to Deal With Name Related Issues Like Spelling Changes.
• And much more . . .

 

How to Research Your Family Name

By Dakota Caudilla

You’ll be surprised with the kind of information you’ll unearth when you do a research on your own family name. People you’ve never known existed, long-lost relatives, and friends who share the same lineage as you! This is what researching your own surname can do for you. If you’re not ready for some surprise findings, you’re better off leaving all this researching to others in your family.

 

Researching your own surname can be done through different methods. For one thing, the most popular among all the other methods of researching your own family surname is through the Internet. The wide availability, freedom of use and flexibility of the internet makes it the most popular genealogical research tool known to humankind today!

Try websites like http://www.genealogy.com and you’ll see what we mean. By typing in your surname or your ancestor’s first and last name, you’ll come up with a whole list of possible family members that you can easily fill up your family tree. These tools are generally easy to use and some websites even have communication tools whereby you can contact the possible relative directly too. These websites contain hundreds of millions of family names in their database to help people find long-lost family members.

Continue reading “How to Research Your Family Name” »

New Magazine for Genealogy Beginners

All of a sudden there seems to be a run on posts related to magazines. Here is another one I came across this morning. Discovering Family History is a new magazine geared toward the beginning genealogist. You can download a free (no sign-up required) preview at the link above. The publisher writes: “Welcome to Discovering Family History, the latest magazine from the publishers of Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy and History Magazine. This new bi-monthly magazine is targeted at people who are starting their genealogy, need a refresher course or are tackling a new aspect of genealogy.

 

Discovering Family History articles are being written by some of the most respected book and magazine authors ­ and many of them have extensive experience of teaching genealogy courses, either face-to-face or online.

Even if you have been conducting your genealogy research for many years, you may want to take a look at what Discovering Family History has to offer: as you get more and more into your family history, you will find the need to investigate resources that are completely new to you. Discovering Family History can help.”

I love this free preview. The articles appear to be exciting and well written. Some article titles include:

• A Few Fantastic Free Family History Websites
• Let Obituaries Speak to You (<– With an Excellent Graphic)
• Who Else is Researching Your Name
• What is a Vital Record

Good stuff!

 

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Where to Next?

Blank Family Tree with Step-by-Step Instructions

…

 

History of Genealogy

In this great article, first published in the July/ August 1999 edition of Family Chronicle Magazine, Donna Porter-Phillips looks at the initial stages and development of genealogy as a hobby and professional practice. Ms. Porter-Phillips states that from the beginning, people have felt the need to leave a record of themselves. “Cave paintings in France, tombstone art all over the world, and even the petroglyphs and pictographs of Native Americans, all point to the fact that early man wanted to be remembered by those who would come after.

 

She goes on to write:

“‘How far back does genealogy go?’ a beginner might ask. And at first thought, Biblical references might come to mind as evidenced by all the chapters of begats. Family descent was important to the ancient Hebrews, in part because Hebrew males had to prove descent from Aaron, the brother of Moses, in order to hold the Levitical priesthood. The first eight chapters of the book of I Chronicles give genealogies from Adam down through Abraham and other Old Testament patriarchs. I Chronicles 9:1 reads, “so all Israel were reckoned by genealogies…”

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here (and then clicking “How To Archives” > “History” > “History of Genealogy”). I suggest you take a close look at the magazine itself. You can pick up a free trial subscription if you’d like.

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